Oh Jesus, next time make it easy
Give me a cold, cold heart of stone
Or Mama, next time
Don't you leave me on my own

Mama had her demons
And Daddy made it hell
And none of us escaped it
As far as I can tell

Oh Jesus, next time make it easy . . .

Dig the grave and fill it
Pack the dirt down tight
Lock the gate behind me
I'm on an empty road tonight

Oh Jesus, next time make it easy . . .

The next time
The next time
The next time, Mama, I need you to stay
The next time, Daddy, don't block my way
The next time, Mama, please turn around
The next time, Daddy, don't drag me down
The next time, Mama, don't you die so soon
The next time, Daddy, don't you be a fool
The next time, Mama, take me by the hand
The next time, Daddy, gotta be a man
The next time
Maybe be a next time
Hopin' for a next time
Gotta be a next time
The next time